Tag Archives: Mini Maker Faire Chicago Northside

Hello world! Want to make some awesome electronics? Then you definitely have to check out Chicago Electronic Distributors, a sponsor of Mini Maker Faire Northside Chicago. The company distributes electronic kits, preconfigured Raspberry Pis, and many other wonderful electronics. Craig LeMoyne started this internet based company in February 2013 when he started selling preconfigured Raspberry Pi, a credit card sized low cost computer that you can plug into a monitor or TV screen. In time, the company grew and now it sells a variety of products including electronic kits from Adafruit, Arduino, Spikenzie Labs, RaspBMC, Cyntech, and more.

In an interview, Craig LeMoyne said, “My goal is for people to know that building something electronic is a lot easier than you think. Soldering shouldn’t be scary, anyone can do it.” There is lots of information online and that you can learn from online tutorials. Plus, at Maker Faire this Saturday, you can try soldering for yourself with Build-A-Blinkie! If you’re a novice, Craig suggests making a TV B-Gone by Adafruit, which turns off all TVs!

Craig was drawn to the maker world because he feels that people should really try to make more of their own things. Chicago Electronic Distributor is a huge supporter of the maker community and the study of STEM subjects. The company also has a neat blog detailing various projects that people can do. For instance, in honor of the Polar Vortex, he wrote about making a digital thermometer. Sweet. Chicago Electronic Distributors is also looking for people to write blog entries about their projects so if you are interested, you should definitely talk to Craig LeMoyne via email or at Maker Faire.

At Chicago Northside Mini Maker Faire, Chicago Electronic Distributors is bringing various products like the TV B-Gone, a basic clock, a thermometer, and much more! You’ll get a chance to learn more about these electronic kits and the company. Chicago Electronic Distributors is looking forward to meeting its customers and supporters and learning more about the needs of makers in Chicago. Check out their website to learn more about the products and their projects: http://chicagodist.com/

Chibots is coming to Mini Maker Faire Chicago Northside! Based in Schaumburg, IL, Chibots has been committed to making robotics accessible to everyone for about fourteen years. Back in 2000, many people thought that robotics was too complex to anyone to get involved in. Thankfully, some forward-thinking individuals thought otherwise and founded Chibots to make robotics accessible to everyone. And there is nothing like working on your robot and then getting see the immediate results when it starts working (or not working). The excitement is tangible.

Chibots continues fulfilling its mission today through a variety of venues: monthly meetings, an online forum/group, and various events in the Chicago region. Chibots showcases its robots at libraries and Science Nights at middle and high schools. In addition to these events, they hold their own competitions. Previously, they’ve held events like Mini-Sumo, a form of sumo style fighting, and Line Maze, where robots try to complete mazes. Recently, they’ve been hosting a larger competition called SRS RoboMagellan. SRS RoboMagellan is a competition where robots have to navigate to three traffic cones, avoiding obstacles. People can use GPS, sensors and much more to try to accomplish the task. The contestants are graded on speed and accuracy. Chibots’ next SRS RoboMagellan is coming up soon so you should definitely check it out. Or better yet, you should build a robot to compete!

For Mini Maker Faire Chicago Northside, Chibots will be showing off a selection their robots in action. They’ll also bring some video of old competitions, like Mini-Sumo! ChiBots wants you to get excited about learning more about robotics and wants to help kids to get more involved in STEM related activities. ChiBots want you to know: “We are here. We are willing. We are able. All we need is your interest in robotics!”

Community Glue Workshop wants to help you fix your stuff. Or better yet,
help you learn how to fix it and assist others with their broken items. The basic idea is this: people show up to monthly events, usually at Ally Brisbin’s café Kitchen Sink, with their broken items and they are paired up with volunteer “fixers” who help to repair the item. It turns the famous Brave New World axiom on its head: Mending, not Spending. The group tries to fix a wide range of items such as toys, clothes, lamps and guitars. They once even fixed a SuperSoaker.

Ally Brisbin and Carla Bruni founded the group about a year ago with the aim of building community and encouraging sustainability. Ally believes the group helps bring neighbors together and rely on each other. Moreover, people get in touch with their own skills and possessions. Carla focuses on the sustainability aspect of the group. Too many people, even environmentally concerned ones, focus too much on disposal of old products and purchase of “green” products to deal with the greater environmental problem. Carla explains that we really can’t just spend our way out of the problem. That’s why repair is so critical.

Community Glue Workshop is excited to set up shop at Chicago Northside Mini Maker Faire. Bring your broken stuff to get fixed at the Community Glue Workshop at Maker Faire:

Have you always wanted to show people that awesome thing you made that time? Or that cool thing you do? If you’ve been thinking about being a maker at the second annual Mini Maker Faire Chicago Northside, now is the time to act! The Call for Makers has been extended for one more weekend, until April 30th!

Thank you to all our Makers and Volunteers for coming out to Carl Schurz High School this Saturday, April 21st to launch the first annual Mini Maker Faire Chicago Northside! And thank you to everyone who attended, planted a flower, pet a chicken, blasted a nerd, shot a basketball, participated in a circus, picked a lock, built your own Chicago, built a blinkie, constructed a catapult, designed recycled jewelry, composed a song, learned about glass-blowing, created a T-shirt scarf, painted your own knife wound, braided Renaissance style hair, joined a hackerspace, worked a 3D printer, operated a robot, rode a DIY segway, completed an electrical circuit, chilled with the Wandering States, and MADE something!